Hollywood Ok's Beach Development

City To Start Negotiations For Casino Hotel, Shops

HOLLYWOOD - — The city will open negotiations with developer Gus Boulis to build the high-rise hotel and shops they hope will spark a renaissance on the beach.

At a packed meeting Wednesday, the City Commission voted unanimously to offer Boulis the chance to develop the city-owned Casino property, at Johnson Street and the Broadwalk.

"I am jubilant," said Mayor Mara Giulianti, who has tried for years to interest developers in the site. "It was a long time in coming."

Both sides now will prepare for negotiations, with the lease coming before the commission for approval. The commission set a 90-day deadline for negotiations.

The decision followed about two hours of statements by the public, which ran about 2-1 in favor of developing the site.

"I want my family to go to the beach and see new development," said Mildred Reinfeld, who lives on Washington Street. "I'm in favor of progress and I want to see new developments."

Opponents said the project would worsen the parking shortage along the beach and ruin the informal character that distinguishes Hollywood's stretch of sand from the beaches to the north and south.

"I feel that the charming small-town atmosphere of Hollywood will be lost forever," said Annette Mihlstin, of Harrison Street.

Several motel and restaurant owners along the beach spoke in favor of building the hotel complex, which they hoped would draw the tourists who go to Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

"It's about time," said Denis Chira, owner of the Sheldon Hotel. "I drive around South Beach and I'm jealous. I drive around Cocowalk and I'm jealous."

The Boulis proposal calls for a 14-story hotel with 234 rooms. The hotel would employ about 200 people, and the restaurants and shops would employ another 500 full-time and part-time workers, said Byron Moger, Boulis' partner.

More than 200 people overflowed into the lobby, where city workers set up folding chairs so they could watch the meeting on television.

Boulis, founder of the Miami Subs restaurant chain, owns three hotels in Key Largo and operates the SunCruz line of casino boats.

In choosing Boulis over a group led by Redevco, a Fort Lauderdale retail developer, commissioners followed the advice of City Manager Sam Finz and the Hollywood Economic Growth Corp.

They said Boulis offered stronger financing and a better chance that the hotel would be four-star quality.

Because the Growth Corp. recommended Boulis, the Redevco group decided not to make a presentation on Wednesday.

Barbara Hall, the group's lawyer, said Redevco still wanted to do the project and hoped the city would consider it.

Commissioners spent virtually no time discussing which developer to choose. They devoted most of their discussion to whether to set deadlines of 60 or 90 days for their negotiations with Boulis.

The proposal came from a partnership called Diamond on the Beach, of which Boulis is majority partner.

"I think this is going to be a big plus for the city and for me and for the people of this city," Boulis said before the vote.